The Pharmacy Technician program is designed to prepare students for careers performing and managing the technical distributive functions in pharmacies and pharmacy-related industries. By doing so, pharmacy technicians allow the pharmacist to concentrate on clinical services such as patient consultation, physician intervention, drug therapy analysis, and other clinical topics. The pharmacy technician performs those functions of pharmacy practice that do not require a pharmacist's professional education or judgment.
North Dakota State College of Science offers two on-campus program options, a one-year (39 academic credits) Certificate and a two-year (64 credits) Associate in Applied Science degree. Both of these include eight weeks of internship in community and hospital settings, which occurs after all classroom requirements have been completed.
Our programs are fully accredited by the American Society of Health Systems Pharmacists.
Students receive classroom, laboratory, and practical experience covering community and institutional practice, sterile product preparation, manufacturing, inventory management and record-keeping, medical terminology and drug products. Students also take other courses in communications, writing, psychology, and speech that will help provide them with the skills to advance in their careers. Upon completion of our program, the graduate will be registered with the North Dakota Board of Pharmacy (which is required for employment), and eligible for national certification.
Most pharmacies employ several technicians, and opportunities within the field are steadily increasing. Pharmacy technicians are found in community, hospital, and home health care pharmacies, as well as research institutions, manufacturers, and other industrial settings. Our graduates have enjoyed 100-percent job placement since our program's inception in 1994.
Completed application for the federal, North Dakota and Minnesota criminal background checks will be required upon entry to the program. A previous felony conviction may affect fieldwork placements. The applicant must visit with the department chair regarding this issue if it applies.
Students enrolled in the Pharmacy Technician program will be assessed a program fee of $12.50 per credit; max $150 per semester.
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
Certificate |
||
| BOTE 171 | Medical Terminology | 4 |
| BIOL 115 | Human Structure and Function | 3 |
| BIOL 115L | Human Structure and Function Lab | 1 |
| CIS 101 | Computer Literacy | 2 |
| ENGL 105 | Technical Communications | 3 |
| PHRM 101 | Orientation to Pharmacy Practice | 1 |
| PHRM 102 | Pharmaceutical Calculations | 3 |
| PHRM 105 | Institutional Pharmacy | 2 |
| PHRM 111 | Pharmacy Records and Inventory Management | 2 |
| PHRM 115 | Community Practice | 3 |
| PHRM 116 | IV and Sterile Product Preparation Lab | 1 |
| PHRM 121 | Chemical / Physical Pharmacy | 2 |
| PHRM 121L | Chemical / Physical Pharmacy Lab | 1 |
| PHRM 125 | Pharmacology for Pharmacy Technicians | 3 |
| PHRM 131 | Pharmacy Internship - Community Based | 3 |
| PHRM 141 | Pharmacy Internship - Hospital Based | 3 |
| PSYC 100 | Human Relations in Organizations | 2 |
| TOTAL REQUIRED CREDITS FOR CERTIFICATE | 39 | |
| Associate | ||
| Course Code | Course Title | Credits |
| BOTE 171 | Medical Terminology | 4 |
| BOTE 115 | Human Structure and Function | 3 |
| BIOL 115L | Human Structure and Function Lab | 1 |
| CIS 101 | Computer Literacy | 2 |
| ENGL 110 | College Composition I | 3 |
| PHRM 101 | Orientation to Pharmacy | 1 |
| PHRM 102 | Pharmaceutical Calculations | 3 |
| PHRM 105 | Institutional Pharmacy | 2 |
| PHRM 111 | Pharmacy Record and Inventory Management | 2 |
| PHRM 115 | Community Practice | 3 |
| PHRM 116 | IV and Sterile Product Preparation | 1 |
| PHRM 121 | Chemical / Physical Pharmacy | 2 |
| PHRM 121L | Chemical / Physical Pharmacy Lab | 1 |
| PHRM 125 | Pharmacology for Pharmacy Technicians | 3 |
| PHRM 131 | Pharmacy Internship - Community Based | 3 |
| PHRM 141 | Pharmacy Internship - Hospital Based | 3 |
| PSYC 111 | Introduction to Psychology | 3 |
General Education Electives |
||
| Wellness electives | 2 | |
| ENGL/COMM elective | 3 | |
| General education electives | 19 | |
| - To be chosen with advisor | ||
| Attention at designated campus and or community activities that support general education learning outcomes. | ||
| TOTAL REQUIRED CREDITS FOR ASSOCIATE | 64 | |
| Six of the credits for both programs are experiential hours normally done during the summer semester. | ||
| This curriculum meets the North Dakota University System general education requirements as indicated in the North Dakota State College of Science Catalog under the heading: NDUS General Education Transfer Agreement. | ||
| ASHP Accredited | ||
1. Completed application to the college.
2. High school graduate or G.E.D.
3. Be 18 years of age before completion of the program.
4. Beginning algebra skills required.
5. Minimum composite score of 15 on the ACT test.
6. A personal interview may be required.
Note: It is recommended for applications to have taken algebra and chemistry while in high school. If these were not taken in high school, then algebra should be taken before entering the program.
A passing grade of 'C' or above is required for all the following Pharmacy Technician courses:
PHRM 101 Orientation to Pharmacy
PHRM 102 Pharmaceutical Calculation
PHRM 105 Institutional Pharmacy
PHRM 111 Pharmacy Records and Management
PHRM 115 Community Practice
PHRM 116 IV and Aseptic Products
PHRM 121 Chemical and Physical Pharmacy
PHRM 121L Chemical and Physical Pharmacy Lab
PHRM 125 Pharmacology for Pharmacy Technicians
BIOL 115 Human Structure and Function
BIOL 115L Human Structure and Function Lab
BOTE 171 Medical Terminology
PHRM 131 Community Internship
PHRM 141 Hospital Internship
Upon successful completion of the required courses, students will be awarded a Certificate or an Associate in Applied Science degree in Pharmacy Technician.
Barbara Lacher, Assistant Program Director
Toll fee 1-800-342-4325, ext. 3-2114 or e-mail.
